NEARLY £15 million of Government funding has been allocated to speed up the delivery of the Able Marine Energy Park, which is set to create 4,000 jobs in North Lincolnshire.

The Humber Local Enterprise Partnership has successfully tapped into the Enterprise Zone Capital Grant Fund, with up to £14.94 million being made available to assist in the delivery of vital infrastructure.

It is the single largest award made, and forms part of a £415-million economic cash injection being formally announced by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles today, as part of the Government's long term plans.

It also represents another huge vote of confidence in the £450-million scheme at North Killingholme from Westminster, as it goes through the final stages of the consenting process, having received the Government's backing last month, with any legal challenges still to overcome.

Lord Chris Haskins, chair of the Humber LEP, said: "We're delighted we were able to secure funding from the Enterprise Zone Capital Grant Fund for the Able Marine Energy Park, which will help the works to get off the ground more quickly, bringing forward hundreds of construction jobs.

"The energy park project is a critical part of our plans for growing the Humber as the UK's energy estuary.

"The work getting underway will give more confidence to investors for the site and begin its transformation, which will increase the region's capacity to supply the needs of the offshore wind sector."

The grant will help to bring forward a first phase programme of £29-million of general infrastructure works, set to be completed by March 2015, creating around 350 construction jobs.

It includes the development of 240,000 sq m of commercial floorspace, including 3.7km of internal access roads, 1,355m of multi-rail sidings, as well as high-voltage electricity supply, together with mains water, gas and sewage services.

Peter Stephenson, Able UK's executive chairman, said: "The grant offer is another very clear indication of the high level of Government support for the AMEP project and underlines the critical role that the development will play for the UK's renewable energy sector. Furthermore it reflects the very significant economic impacts that AMEP will have locally, regionally and indeed nationally."

Local growth minister Kris Hopkins, said: "I am pleased Humber is getting one step closer to fulfilling its ambition to become the centre of the global offshore wind industry.

"This new £15 million investment will ensure the zone has the infrastructure it needs to unlock Humber's potential as an energy centre, bringing even more businesses into the area and creating thousands of local jobs.

"This is part of our long-term economic plan to back business and enterprise right across the country, and it will help Humber to prosper and create more jobs for its hardworking people."

Councillor Liz Redfern, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: "This is fantastic news and further demonstrates the level of confidence and commitment the Government has in developing the Humber region.

"Able Marine Energy Park is of incredible significance in so many ways and will make a huge impact on the region's economy."

5 comments

Reported in Spiegel "green fade out, Europe to ditch climate goals "
At the request of Commission President José Manuel Barroso, EU member states are no longer to receive specific guidelines for the development of renewable energy. The stated aim of increasing the share of green energy across the EU to up to 27 percent will hold. But how seriously countries tackle this project will no longer be regulated within the plan. As of 2020 at the latest -- when the current commitment to further increase the share of green energy expires -- climate protection in the EU will apparently be pursued on a voluntary basis.
This gravy train is close to over

We taxpayers probably should think ourselves fortunate that we have got off lightly with £15 million! Heaven knows how many more £millions of subsidies and taxpayers' money the Govt would have had to throw at this if Mark Kirk's and Scunthorpe Liebour's hyped up projections of all those 25, 000 jobs had come to fruition!! Only in Scunthorpe eh?! ROFL ;-)

A bit like Nissan UK then, only here because the tax payer pays them to be here! Question is, when will the government donate money to small business so that they can competet on a level playing field as the conglomorates that are always getting breaks and subsidies!